A student at Our Lady of Confidence Day School (OLC) enjoys a Thanksgiving dinner prepared by fellow students and teachers, Nov. 22. OLC is one of four archdiocesan schools of special education. (Katie Bier / Our Lady of Confidence Day School)
Students, faculty and staff from Our Lady of Confidence Day School (OLC) in Willow Grove gathered on Nov. 22 for a prayer service followed by a Thanksgiving feast.
The prayer service was led by students and teachers from OLC and from the Marion Bolger Recreational Program, which provides recreational and social activities to young adults with severe cognitive and physical impairments. A spiritual mission of St. David Parish in Willow Grove, the program is named after the sister of Msgr. Richard Bolger, St. David’s pastor emeritus.
Students and teachers also got to show off their cooking skills as they prepared the holiday meal, which included turkey and trimmings. Live music and activities rounded out the afternoon.
OLC serves students with intellectual disabilities and developmental delays at two locations. Students ages three to 14 attend OLC’s St. David Parish site, while students ages 15 to 21 attend OLC’s Bishop McDevitt site, located in Wyncote.
One of four archdiocesan schools of special education, OLC opened its doors in 1954 to instruct children with special needs in a Catholic environment. The school’s mission is to facilitate the complete development of students with intellectual disabilities to their fullest potential spiritually, intellectually, mentally, physically and emotionally.
The other schools of special education include Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf, St. Lucy School for Children with Visual Impairments and St. Katherine School.
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